Champagne AOC is the denomination of origin for the traditional method sparkling wines of the Champagne region in north-eastern France.

History: Origin of Champagne’s name.

Producer types: Récoltant-manipulant. 

Champagne AOC sub-regions: Côte des Blancs. | Côte des Bar (formerly the Aube). | Montagne de Reims. | Vallée de la Marne.

Terroir: Viticultural zone (definition of). | Vineyard surface area (delimited, plantable, & planted vine areas). | Lieux-dits (number of). | Soil pH.

Viticulture: Chlorosis (a vine disorder) in Champagne. 

Organic & Biodynamic practices: Organic viticulture has been practiced in the Champagne region since the 1970s (and was recognised in France since 1981), the pioneers being Jacques Beaufort (Ambonnay), Jean Bliard (Hautvillers), Serge Faust (Vandières), Roger Fransoret (Mancy), Georges Laval (Cumières), Yves Ruffin (Avenay Val d’Or), and Pierre Thomas (Oger). The three main hurdles to surmount when converting to organics or Biodynamics in Champagne are the drop in yields (of up to 20%), dealing with weeds without herbicides, and dealing with downy mildew (peronospera).

Organic & Biodynamic data: See here for current data on Organic and Biodynamic Champagne production.

Vintages: Champagne vintages (see also Vintage Champagne, above). 

Sparkling wines: Non-vintage Champagne. | Multi-vintage Champagne. | Vintage Champagne. | Blanc de Blancs Champagne.

Serving Champagne: Decanting Champagne.

Champagne wineries

Certified Biodynamic: Champagne Augustin et Fils. | Champagne Benoit Lahaye. | Champagne Bourgeois-Diaz. | Champagne Charlot-Tanneux. | Champagne David Léclapart (Trépail). | Champagne de Sousa (Avize). | Champagne Fleury. | Champagne Franck Pascal. | Champagne Francis Boulard (Cauroy-lès-Hermonville). | Champagne Françoise Bedel. | Champagne Gaiffe-Brun. | Champagne Gaston Collard. | Champagne Hughes Godme. | Champagne La Parcelle. | Champagne Lancelot-Wanner. | Champagne Leclerc-Briant. | Champagne Marguet. | Champagne Olivier Horiot (Les-Riceys). | Champagne Reaut-Noirot. | Champagne Rodez. | Champagne Robert Barbichon (Gré-sur-Seine). | Champagne Ruppert-Leroy. | Champagne Schreiber. | Champagne Vincent Couche. | Champagne Vouette et Sorbée (Bertrand Gautherot). | Domaine de la Malmaison. | SCEV du Tremble.

Certified organic, Biodynamic practices: Champagne Larmandier-Bernier (Vertus). | Champagne Roederer (Reims).  | Champagne Solemmne (Villers-aux-Nœuds). 

Certified organic: Champagne Bruno Michel (Pierry). | Champagne Laurent Bénard (Aÿ-Champagne).

No certification: Champagne Billecart-Salmon (Aÿ-Champagne). | Champagne Bollinger (Aÿ-Champagne). | Champagne Drappier (Urville). | Champagne GH Mumm (Reims). | Champagne Gratien & Meyer (). | Champagne Salon (Le Mesnil sur Oger). | Champagne Serge Mathieu (Les Riceys). | Champagne Tarlant (Oeilly). | Champagne Yves Ruffin.

Bibliography

Marina Galy (from FRAB) quoted on 03 May 2011 in ‘Vignes bio: des solutions pour limiter les ravageurs’, published by L’Ést Éclair.